Factual
Nat Geo digs deep as Explorer Film Festival returns with fresh stories
MUMBAI: Adventure calls again and this time, it’s cinematic. National Geographic is rolling out the yellow carpet for the return of its Explorer Film Festival, a celebration of bold ideas, breathtaking quests, and the indomitable human spirit. The much-loved festival premieres on Sunday, 9 November at 10 pm, promising an evening of storytelling that travels from the ocean floor to volcanic peaks.
Continuing National Geographic’s legacy of inspiring curiosity, the 2025 edition spotlights Explorers scientists, conservationists, and adventurers whose work blurs the line between passion and peril. Whether it’s uncovering ancient secrets, saving species, or pushing the limits of human endurance, each film captures the thrill of discovery in its purest form.
The global lineup reads like a love letter to exploration.
. Love + War follows Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Lynsey Addario, who has risked her life on frontlines from Afghanistan to Ukraine to reveal the human cost of conflict.
. The Last Rhinos: A New Hope chronicles a daring scientific mission to save the Northern White Rhino from extinction through the world’s first surrogate rhino pregnancy.
. Secrets of the Penguins dives into the icy lives of these resilient creatures, their courage, bonds, and surprising intelligence.
. Titanic: The Digital Resurrection resurfaces the world’s most famous shipwreck using cutting-edge 3D scanning to create a digital twin of the Titanic for a hauntingly immersive exploration.
. Explorer: Lake of Fire takes viewers into the molten heart of an uncharted volcano as scientists seek answers to one of nature’s most explosive mysteries.
. Explorer: The Deepest Cave journeys into the Earth’s underbelly, where cavers navigate perilous underground mazes to reach the planet’s lowest known depths.
Each film in the Explorer series isn’t just about discovery, it’s about reflection. It questions how far we’ve come, what we’ve lost, and what remains to be found.
To drum up anticipation, National Geographic will launch a nationwide promo campaign two weeks ahead of the premiere. The teaser already hints at breathtaking visuals, edge-of-seat drama, and heart-stirring human stories, an ode to the restless spirit of exploration.
With themes spanning love, loss, courage, and curiosity, this year’s Explorer Film Festival invites audiences to look beyond borders, dive beneath the surface, and climb into the unknown, one frame at a time.
So, mark your calendars. On 9 November at 10 PM, switch on National Geographic and prepare to journey from the deepest caves to the coldest ice caps proof that the world’s greatest stories aren’t just out there; they’re waiting to be explored.
MUMBAI: India’s most famous hot seat is about to welcome an unlikely first-timer. For the first time on Hindi general entertainment television, industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla will appear on Kaun Banega Crorepati, the iconic quiz show hosted by Amitabh Bachchan.
The special episode marks a rare meeting point of boardroom heft and prime-time television, bringing one of India’s most influential business leaders face to face with the country’s most enduring screen legend. It is a crossover that blends intellect, leadership and popular culture, all under KBC’s familiar spotlight.
Birla’s appearance dovetails neatly with the show’s current theme, Jahaan Akal Hai, Wahan Akad Hai, which celebrates the confidence that comes from clarity of thought and knowledge. His presence lends weight to the idea that sharp thinking and conviction are as vital in life as they are in the quiz chair.
In a thoughtful conversation with Bachchan, Birla shared an upbeat view of India’s economic journey, pointing to the nation’s rapid growth and the scale of opportunity opening up across industries and communities. He spoke of momentum, ambition and a future shaped by enterprise and ideas.
The episode is not all serious talk. In lighter moments, Birla confessed his long-standing admiration for Bachchan, calling him his favourite actor and admitting to a touch of nervousness at answering questions in front of the Shahenshah himself. The candour adds a human touch to a man more often seen in headlines than on television sets.
The special episode airs on Monday, 29 December at 9.00 pm on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV.
